Folding table.



H. A. FRANK.

n FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1916.

,240,962; v PatentedSept.. 25,191?,

Figi

INVEQR if .in

vHmaiw A. FRANK, or TOLEDO, oHIo.d

FOLDING TABLE.

matones.

of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulFolding Table anddohereby del-` clare the following to be a full, clear, and' exactdescription of 'the invention, such'as will enable others skilled intheart to which it appertains to make and use the same, refdrawings andto the characters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of thisby hinges 4.

specification.

This invention relates to furniture, and particularly to a table of thefolding-or collapsing type.

The object of my invention is the provision, in combination with a tableof the character described having folding legs, of Simple, efficient andimproved means which is operable from an edge of the table tosimultaneously fold or unfold the several legs thereof and to lock suchlegs in set-up or collapsed relation to the table top.

The invention is fully described 4in the following specification, andwhile, in its broader aspect, it iscapableof embodiment in numerousforms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated lin theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of atable in set-up' position embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 arebottom views thereof, with the legs in unfolded and folded positions,

respectively. F ig. 4 is a section on the line :12, in Fig. 2. Fig. 5visan enlarged View of an edge portion of 'thetable, and Fig. 6y is aperspective View of a portion of the handle portion of the 'legcontrolling lever.

Referring'to the drawings,l designates a table top which is preferablyprovided around the entire edge thereof with a depending iange 2. A pairof cross-bars 3,` 3 f are hinged at one edge thereof to the under sideof the top 1, one bar being adjacentV to each of opposite portions ofeach flange 2 'and in position to adapt it, when in uplright or set-upposition with respect to the 'table top, to be braced against outwardmovements bysaid flange, as shown in Figs.

2 and. Each bar-3 is connected to the top Legs 5, 5 projecttransversely, from each bar 3 at the ends thereof and in oppositionSpecification of Letters Patent.

the table top is of small area a lengthening of the legs may bepermitted by provi-ding each cross-bar 3 with a notch 6 in position foreach of the legs 5, which is disposed be'- tween the other pair of legs,to project into when the legs are in folded position, as shown in Fig.3. I

A lever 7 is pivoted to the under side of the table top 1 centrallythereofgas at S, and is connected at opposite sides of its PatentedSept. 25, 1917..

'Application filed April 8, 1916 Serial No. 89,973.

pivot with the free edges of the .cross-bars by links or rods 9,`Wherebya rocking of the lever in one direction will impart an unfoldingmovement to the legs 5, and vice versa. One arm of the lever Z islengthened to form a handle 7, which is projected outward through anelongated opening or slot 10 in the side flange 2 of the top. One wallof the slot 10, the upper in the present instance, is provided at eachend thereof with a set of ratchet-teeth' 11 with which a tooth 12 on thelever handle may engage to lock the legs in either set-up or collapsedposition, as is apparent. When the legs are in set-upposition'the rods.9, in `coperation with the lever 7 ,p exert an outward pressure onthebars 3 and force them firmly against the respective side portions ofthe flange 2, thus making the legs firm and preventing lateral wabblingmovements of the table.

l It is evident that I have provided a table, the legs of which are'lhinged thereto and connected to a control lever which is operable froman edge of the table to effect a simultaneous unfolding or folding ofthe legs with respect to the table, and which is disposed atthe-respective edges of the table therewith.

' I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, except in so far as suchlimitationsA are specified in the claimv .said flange having anelongated opening in a part thereof, a pair of cross-bars hinged to thetop, one adjacent to each of opposite edges thereof, each of said barshaving legs projecting therefrom, fa lever pivoted to the under side ofthe table and having one end thereof prolonged and extended through saidelongated opening, rods projecting in opposite directions from the leverat oppo- Lmpara site sides of its pivot and connected atltheir outerends to respective cross-bars, whereby rocking movements of the leverWill communicate simultaneous movements to the cross-bars and legs,ratchet-teeth providedy at opposite end portions of said opening in oneWall thereof, and means on said lever for engaging with said teeth toreleasably retain the lever `at eitherlimt of its movement with respectto said opening.

In testimony whereof, vI have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

HARRY A. FRANK.

